BJP hunting for house in Jaipur to set up Amit Shah’s war room

Shah to divide state into different zones, appoint trusted leaders as in-charge.

BJP national president Amit Shah addresses a press conference in New Delhi. (Sonu Mehta/HT PHOTO)

With six months to go for Rajasthan Assembly elections, the BJP is in the process of setting up a ‘war room’ in Jaipur from where the party chief Amit Shah and his lieutenants will be calling the shots.

A team from Delhi BJP is in Jaipur to look for a house to be rented for Shah who is expected to visit sometime in June. Sources said that Shah’s aides are looking for a house in Jaipur’s C Scheme and also at JLN Marg. The ideal house would be not too far from the airport and at a safe and secure location away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Two flats have also been rented out in the C Scheme where a team of BJP’s national IT wing is expected to move in shortly.

The BJP national president will be visiting the state every month for three to four days and the duration will increase in run up to the elections scheduled for November or December, sources said.

“Shah will stay at the rented accommodation, and will visit the party office for official engagements. He does not like laid back approach and party leaders have to be on their toes as he could summon them anytime and seek progress report on the developments on the ground,” a BJP leader said.

Instead of depending on the state unit, Shah’s team will take feedback from the district units across Rajasthan and work out the strategy for elections. “He will monitor and micro-manage all political developments in the run up to the elections. Rajasthan will be divided into zones and his trusted leaders in the central party organisation will be given charge of each zone,” the BJP leader said.

The schedule for Shah’s visit to Jaipur has not been finalised. “Amit Shah ji is expected to visit in coming weeks but dates have not been fixed,” BJP state media cell in-charge Anand Sharma said.

Sources said that Shah has also got a report prepared on the state unit. After the announcement of the state party president, new faces will also be brought in to the organisation to create an effective team of office bearers in the run up to the polls.

The state BJP unit has remained headless for over a month after Ashok Parnami, who was held responsible for the bypoll loss, resigned as the state party president on March 16.

While BJP leaders say the announcement of a new party chief was held up due to the Karnataka elections, the stalemate between the central and state leadership over a suitable candidate has also delayed the announcement. While central leadership is keen on appointing Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhwat to the post, the move is being opposed by chief minister Vasundhara Raje. On the other hand, Shah has rejected the names of leaders suggested by the chief minister.

State urban development and housing minister Srichand Kriplani said that appointment of new BJP chief was expected in a day or two after which they will get into election mode.